It was no wonder Tsunade was so agitated. For all the years Konoha had existed, they had suppressed the Nine-Tails, but never once considered harnessing its power.
After all, the Nine-Tails had always been synonymous with savagery, its every appearance bringing destruction and calamity. And now, someone was suggesting they attempt to communicate with the Nine-Tails? To harness its power?
"Senior Tsunade, this decision was reached after careful deliberation."
"Minato, do you realize what you're saying?"
"Yes, I'm fully aware. Kushina is my wife. I would never do anything to harm her."
Minato Namikaze's expression was grave. As he stated, he would never gamble with the life of his beloved.
"But… that's the Nine-Tails."
"Ah, actually, Senior Tsunade, during the previous Nine-Tails Incident, Kushina already borrowed the Nine-Tails' power. In fact, the compromise between them was initiated by the Nine-Tails itself."
Hearing that Kushina and the Nine-Tails had already established a connection, Tsunade's face turned utterly shocked. This was the first time she'd ever heard of the Nine-Tails actively reaching out to a Jinchūriki.
And lending its power to a Jinchūriki? That sounded like pure fantasy.
"Ah, ah, ah. Getting old, I can't keep up with young people's thinking anymore. Here's the pendant. If you need anything from me later, just say the word."
Kazuyama Gekkō held the pendant in his hand and nodded with satisfaction.
"Thank you."
"Oh, and don't forget about my daughter."
"Got it, got it."
Tsunade had promised Kazuyama Gekkō to become the teacher of his daughter, Senko Gekkō. She certainly wouldn't forget.
"Oh? Senior Tsunade, what did you promise Kazuyama?"
"Nothing much—just to be his daughter's teacher."
Upon hearing this, Minato Namikaze and Kushina exchanged a knowing glance. Then, in perfect unison, they both nodded.
As for what they discussed, Kazuyama Gekkō could figure it out with his little finger. It was undoubtedly about finding a sensei for their son, Naruto Uzumaki. And he suspected that heavy responsibility would likely fall upon Jiraiya.
"Let's go, Minato, Kushina."
"I'll go find Yamato. You two find a suitable location to begin constructing the Fūinjutsu ritual."
"It must be concealed and secure. Ah, I suppose I don't need to say it, but you both know."
Kazuyama Gekkō tossed the pendant to Minato Namikaze before vanishing with a flash of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Minato and Kushina exchanged a nod with Tsunade before beginning preparations for the next steps.
...
The Gekkō residence.
"Huh? Yamato isn't in the village?"
"Out on a mission with that guy Hayate?"
"Ah, fine. Fine."
Kazuyama Gekkō, who had hoped to find Yamato, returned home only to learn he was on duty. Yamato was now a ninja among the village's elites, having passed the Chūnin Exams. He and Hayate Gekkō had formed a small team, going out on missions daily.
"Alright, I'll just wait for him to return then."
"Pakura, there's something I need to discuss with you."
Soon, Kazuyama Gekkō brought up the matter of asking Tsunade to take Senko Gekkō as her student.
Pakura had no reason to object. After all, Tsunade, as one of Konoha's Sannin, was undoubtedly a powerhouse standing at the pinnacle.
...
Three days later, outside Konohagakure, beside a waterfall.
Kazuyama Gekkō, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina stared at Yamato before them.
"Wait, Kazuyama-sensei, Lord Hokage, Kushina-sama, please don't look at me like that.... I just returned from a mission. Is there something you need from me?"
It wasn't that Yamato lacked mental fortitude, but having all the village's top brass staring at him like this... Especially since Kazuyama Gekkō was his personal mentor.
"Relax, Yamato, relax."
"You won't be assigned any missions for the foreseeable future."
"Including myself, the four of us present here are the entire team for the upcoming operation."
"I expect you to cooperate with us as much as possible."
Minato Namikaze smiled at Yamato, trying to ease his tension.
Kazuyama Gekkō, however, took a much more direct approach.
"Enough with the niceties. Here. This is for you."
He tossed a scroll directly at Yamato.
Yamato caught it and unrolled it, discovering it contained a technique—a ninjutsu, to be precise.
Its name: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands.
"Kazuyama Sensei, what is this?"
Yamato stared at the scroll in confusion. Upon closer inspection, it seemed similar to a Fūinjutsu, yet not quite the same.
"Just a technique. Minato Namikaze, give him that pendant."
Minato Namikaze nodded, retrieving the First Hokage's pendant from Tsunade and handing it to Yamato along with the scroll.
"What is this?"
Yamato took the First Hokage's pendant, his confusion deepening as he examined the emerald gem. Yet inexplicably, he felt an odd sense of mutual attraction to the pendant.
"Try infusing your chakra into it?"
Yamato nodded, gathering chakra in his palm and channeling it into the pendant.
As his chakra flowed in, the First Hokage's pendant suddenly burst with a green glow. It carried the distinct aura of Wood Release chakra.
Feeling this energy, the four present wore entirely different expressions.
Kazuyama Gekkō looked utterly unsurprised.
Minato Namikaze wore a look of astonishment.
Kushina frowned deeply; enveloped by this chakra, her entire body felt oddly limp and weak.
As for Yamato, his face radiated pure comfort. The chakra of the same origin and lineage brought him a wave of relief, even causing the power within his own body to slowly surge forth.
"Seems to be as expected."
"Indeed, it is chakra of the same origin and lineage."
"With this, all the theories hold true."
"Kushina, how do you feel?"
Both Kazuyama Gekkō and Minato Namikaze noticed Kushina's change.
Kushina shook her head at both of them.
"I'm fine. It just feels like this chakra is suppressing me. I don't think it's targeting me personally."
"It's targeting the Nine-Tails."
At this point, everyone was satisfied with the current progress. After all, they had gathered here specifically to counter the Nine-Tails' power.
"Yamato, we need your strength now."
"Yes, Kazuyama Sensei."
"First, complete the Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands technique."
Combining Wood Release with Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands would allow Yamato to become the focal point suppressing the Nine-Tails' chakra. With the First Hokage's pendant added, it should be foolproof.